Television schedule system

ABSTRACT

Screen ( 10 ) for a user interface of a television schedule system and process consists of an array ( 24 ) of irregular cells ( 26 ), which vary in length, corresponding to different television program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half hours or more. The array is arranged as three columns ( 28 ) of one-half hour in duration, and twelve rows ( 30 ) of program listings. Some of the program listings overlap two or more of the columns ( 28 ) because of their length. Because of the widely varying length of the cells ( 26 ), if a conventional cursor used to select a cell location were to simply step from one cell to another, the result would be abrupt changes in the screen ( 10 ) as the cursor moved from a cell ( 26 ) of several hours length to an adjacent cell in the same row. An effective way of taming the motion is to assume that behind every array ( 24 ) is an underlying array of regular cells. By restricting cursor movements to the regular cells, abrupt screen changes will be avoided with the cursor ( 32 ), the entire cell ( 26 ) is 3-D highlighted, using a conventional offset shadow ( 34 ). The offset shadow ( 34 ) is a black bar that underlines the entire cell and wraps around the right edge of the cell. To tag the underlying position—which defines where the cursor ( 32 ) is and thus, where it will move next—portions ( 36 ) of the black bar outside the current underlying position are segmented, while the current position is painted solid.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.08/033,773, filed Mar. 19, 1993, which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety, and which is a continuation-in-part both ofU.S. Ser. No. 07/579,555, filed Sept. 10, 1990, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety, and of U.S. Ser. No.07/916,043, filed Jul. 17, 1992, which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety and which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.07/778,404, U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,789, filed Oct. 17, 1991, which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety and which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/428,620, filed Oct. 30, 1989,now abandoned, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] One aspect of the present invention relates generally to a systemand process that allows a television viewer to access on screentelevision program listings and use the program listings in an easy andconvenient way to control operation of a video cassette recorder (VCR)or other recording device. In particular, it relates to a system andprocess that displays on a television screen, overlaying a primarytelevision display or program, a small background schedule guide thatcan be easily accessed by a user during lulls in the primary televisiondisplay or program.

[0003] Another aspect of the present invention relates to such a systemand process that creates a directory of recorded programs by title foreasy retrieval and program playback. More particularly, it relates tosuch a system and process in which the VCR or other recording device iscontrolled by a simple selection of program title and a record command,even for recording at a future date and time. Most especially, itrelates to such a system and process incorporating an intuitive userinterface.

[0004] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates generally toa cable television (CATV) decoder interface. More particularly, itrelates to such an interface for connecting the cable television decoderto a television accessory, such as a video cassette recorder (VCR). Mostespecially, it relates to such an interface which maintains fullfunctionality of the television accessory while connected to thedecoder.

[0005] The difficulty of setting a VCR for automatic recording at afuture date is notorious. Even users who are technically sophisticatedwill often make mistakes in the VCR programming procedure that causethem to record the wrong program or not to record anything at all. Thisdifficulty has even resulted in a substantial body of humor dedicated tothe subject of programming VCRs.

[0006] The difficulty of VCR programming has been alleviated somewhat bythe development of VCRs that use a television set as a display for userprompts and feedback to the user during the programming process. U.S.Pat. No. 4,908,713, issued Mar. 13, 1990 to Michael R. Levine, disclosessuch a VCR using the television set as a display for VCR programmingwith an interactive user interface for directing the user on astep-by-step basis. Such a user interface removes a great deal of themystery from VCR programming, but users still have difficulty with sucha command-based interface and encounter problems carrying out theprogramming without making mistakes that cause them to miss recordingprograms they would like to watch at a different time than when they arebroadcast.

[0007] Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,121, issued Nov. 10, 1987to Patrick Young, discloses a system and process in which userselections from television schedule information are used for automaticcontrol of a VCR. That patent also contains a description of a proposeduser interface for such a system and process. However, the provision ofa highly intuitive user interface that makes such a system and processeasy and convenient to operate is a difficult task. Further developmentof this system and process has produced considerable change in the userinterface as originally proposed.

[0008] In addition to simplifying VCR programming, users who do asubstantial amount of program taping also need an improved system andprocess for keeping track of their recorded programs. Commonly assignedApplication Ser. No. 07/219,971, filed Jul. 15, 1988, in the name ofPatrick Young, discloses a system and process that provides indexingcapability for taped material. A user interface for a televisionschedule system and process should also handle this capability on anintuitive basis.

[0009] Thus, while the art pertaining to the control of VCRs and totelevision schedule systems is a well-developed one, a need stillremains for a television schedule system and process incorporating animproved user interface. In particular, unlike most computer menus, agrid TV guide is an array of irregular cells, where the cell size canvary from a fraction of an hour to many hours—extending well beyond thecurrent screen. If this array is navigated by a cursor that goes fromcell to cell, a single cursor command can produce violent screenchanges. For example, a cursor right command may cause an abrupt jump toa cell situated several hours from the current page. Not only is thisunsettling, but may take considerable effort to recover. Clearly, agentler cursor motion is needed for the irregular cells found in a gridTV guide.

[0010] Printed grid television schedule guides often include additionalinformation besides the program title and broadcast names. Such gridsare also typically provided in combination with a more detailed printedschedule that contains a synopsis of each program, whether the programis a repeat, ratings for movies, and other information. When using atelevision set as a display for a schedule system, the size andresolution of the television display limit the amount of text that canbe displayed with the grid. Improved techniques are required forconveying the most amount of information to the user in an easilyunderstood manner within the limitations of the television display. Whena large number of channels are available for viewing, there is also aneed to order the display of information most conveniently for the user.

[0011] Programming a VCR for unattended recording becomes even moreproblematic when it is desired to record cable programs. Cabletelevision decoders typically operate by requiring a television set anda VCR connected to the decoder to be set to a predetermined channel,such as channel 2, 3 or 4, and all channel selection is accomplished bythe decoder. This presents problems for unattended recording, in thatnot all of the advanced features available on state-of-the-art VCRs canbe used while the VCR is under control of the decoder.

[0012] Two Zenith Electronics Corporation technical papers disclosesystems which attempt to deal with this problem. Merrell, “Tac-Timer,”1986 NCTA Technical Papers, pp. 203-206, discloses a smart remotecontroller to solve the unattended programming problem when a cabledecoder precedes a VCR. The smart controller is programmed to turn onthe cable decoder at specific times, but the VCR must be programmedindependently to match the programming of the smart controller. However,this remote controller does not coordinate channel selection for suchdevices as television schedule systems, such as disclosed in my U.S.Pat. No. 4,706,121, issued Nov. 10, 1987, nor does it support uniquefeatures of more advanced VCRs. For example, this controller does notsupport on-screen VCR programming, even if that feature is otherwiseavailable on a VCR. The controller does not include any capability forconveying information about a channel selected on the cable decoder unitto a television schedule system or a VCR in any useful way.

[0013] Long, “The VCR Interface,” 1986 NCTA Technical Papers, pp.197-202, discloses two solutions for the unattended programming problemwhen a cable decoder precedes a VCR. The first of these is a VCRbaseband decoder, also called BASE-TAC, and currently marketed by Zenithas MultiPort or MP. MPs allow the core functions (descrambling andaddressing) of a cable decoder to be added to TVs and VCRs. The decoderaccepts the baseband output of the TV or VCR tuner, eliminating the needfor a separate decoder tuner and attendant need to coordinate twotuners. This method is effective for supporting television schedulesystems and allows full functionality of advanced VCR features. However,the MP alternative requires new TV or VCR equipment and is notcompatible with the existing installed base of cable decoders. Thismethod has not been well-received at this time. The second is the VCRInterface, which uses RF switching and a centralized approach for allTVs and VCRs in the home. It descrambles incoming CATV channels and,after modulation, combines them back onto the CATV cable at unused upperchannels. The result is that any TV set on the cable can receive premiumchannels without a separate decoder. This method eliminates the need forredundant decoders at every TV set or VCR. As described, the system wasconceived for only one premium channel. To support a television schedulesystem, all premium channels must be descrambled together and beavailable simultaneously. If not, it would be necessary to provide a wayof tuning the centralized descrambler from any TV set or VCR attached tothe cable. Such a scheme would be awkward when more than one TV or VCRcompetes for control of the single descrambler. The VCR interface may beimplemented using retrofitted decoders, but the overall cost may beprohibitive for the average home.

[0014] A somewhat similar system for use with the German televisionnetworks is described in Sommerhauser, “Video Programm System: Flexibelprogrammieren mit VPS,” Funkschau, No. 25, Dec. 1985, pp. 47-51.

[0015] Other prior art relating to CATV, its decoders, and programmableremote devices includes west German Published Application 2,338,380,published Feb. 13, 1975; U.K. Pat. No. 1,554,411, published Oct. 17,1979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,651, issued Mar. 1, 1983 to Templin et al.;U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,691, issued Jul. 19, 1983 to Amano et al; U.S. Pat.No. 4,802,114, issued Jan. 31, 1989 to Sogame. While the prior artrelating to cable decoder interfaces and similar devices is awell-developed one, a need remains for further development of suchdevices. None of the existing interfaces both provides a completesolution to the problem of unattended recording and is compatible withalready installed equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The above problems and difficulties present in the prior art areovercome through the use of the novel system and method of the presentinvention. One aspect of the present invention is directed to a systemand method to allow automatic, unattended recording of cable televisionprograms supplied on a cable system as herein disclosed. A videorecording system to allow automatic, unattended recording of at leasttwo cable television programs supplied sequentially at different timeson different channels of a cable system includes a television receiver,a remote controllable cable decoder and a remote controllable videorecorder with unattended programming capability connected between thetelevision receiver and the cable decoder. A remote controller for thevideo recorder includes a means for user input of program selectionsfrom a television schedule. The remote controller is coupled to thevideo recorder. A channel selection coordinator includes a memory meansfor storing channel tuning conversion information and program selectionsinput by the user with the means for user input of program selections. Ameans converts channels of the at least two program selections tochannel tuning commands recognizable by the cable decoder using thechannel tuning conversion information and the program selections. Ameans automatically transmits the channel tuning commands to the cabledecoder at desired activation times of the at least two programselections (typically the broadcast times, with a guard time at thebeginning and end of each program). A means automatically suppliesrecording commands to the video recorder at the desired activation timesof the at least two program selections.

[0017] The method of this aspect of the invention automatically recordscable television programs supplied sequentially at different times on acable system unattended, even with channel changes between the programs.A remote controllable video recorder having unattended programmingcapability is connected between a television receiver and a remotecontrollable cable decoder. Channel tuning conversion information isstored in a memory. Program selections for at least two programs ondifferent channels is input from a television schedule with a remotecontroller for the video recorder. The program selections are stored inthe memory. Channels of the program selections are converted to channeltuning commands recognizable by the cable decoder using the channeltuning conversion information and the program selections. The channeltuning commands are automatically transmitted to the cable decoder atbroadcast times of the program selections. Recording commands areautomatically transmitted to the video recorder at the broadcast timesof the program selections.

[0018] Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a noveltelevision schedule system and process user interface herein disclosed.A television schedule system including a user interface in accordancewith this aspect of the invention has a display and a means connected tothe display for displaying the television schedule on the display as anarray of irregular cells which vary dimensionally in length,corresponding to different television program time lengths. A means isconnected to the display for providing a cursor with the televisionschedule on the display. The cursor has a variable length correspondingto the length of a selected one of the irregular cells in which thecursor is located. A means is connected to the means for providing thecursor for moving the cursor in the array in a series of equal lengthsteps. At least some of the irregular cells have a length which isgreater than the length of the steps.

[0019] In the process of operating a television schedule system with theuser interface of this aspect of the invention, the television scheduleis displayed as an array of irregular cells which vary dimensionally inlength, corresponding to different television program time lengths. Acursor is provided with the television schedule on the display, thecursor has a variable length corresponding to the length of a selectedone of the irregular cells in which the cursor is located. The cursor ismoved in the array in a series of equal length steps, with at least someof the irregular cells having a length which is greater than the lengthof the steps.

[0020] In another aspect of the invention, a control system for a videorecording machine has a controller for starting and stopping the videorecording machine, for recording video information on recording media,and for playing recorded video information on recording media. A displaygenerator provides display image generation signals. A means suppliesinformation to the display generator for generation of display imagesrelating to operation of the video recording machine. The means forsupplying information includes means for generating a recording mediaposition indicator graduated as segments corresponding to programsrecorded on the recording media.

[0021] In a process for controlling a video recording machine accordingto this aspect of the invention, a recording media position indicator isgraduated as segments corresponding to programs recorded on therecording media. The recording media position indicator is displayed asposition of a selected one of the recording media in the video recordingmachine is changed.

[0022] In a further aspect of the invention, a television schedulesystem includes a display and means connected to the display fordisplaying the television schedule on the display. The means fordisplaying a schedule is configured to allow selection by a user of afirst number of desired channels for display of schedule informationwhich is less than a second number of available channels. A programmabletuner is connected to the means for displaying a schedule. Theprogrammable tuner is configured to follow the first number of desiredchannels when the television schedule is shown on the display inresponse to a channel up or channel down command. The programmable tuneris configured to follow the second number of available channels in theabsence of the television schedule on the display in response to achannel up or channel down command.

[0023] In a process for operating a television schedule system accordingto this further aspect of the invention, a first number of desiredchannels is selected for display of schedule information, which is lessthan a second number of available channels. The schedule information isdisplayed on a display. The first number of desired channels is followedwhen the schedule information is shown on the display in response to achannel up or channel down command. The second number of availablechannels is followed in the absence of the television schedule on thedisplay in response to a channel up or channel down command.

[0024] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, usercontrol of a television is simplified by a system and process thatdisplays on a television screen, overlaying a primary television displayor program, a small background schedule guide that can be easilyaccessed by a user during lulls in the primary television display orprogram.

[0025] The attainment of the foregoing and related objects, advantagesand features of the invention should be more readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, after review of the following more detaileddescription of the invention, taken together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIGS. 1-3 are diagrammatic representations of a televisionschedule grid incorporating the user interface for the system andprocess of this invention.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a screen display usedin the system and process of the invention.

[0028] FIGS. 5-7 are additional diagrammatic representations of thetelevision schedule grid incorporating the user interface for the systemand process of the invention.

[0029]FIG. 8 is a flow chart for understanding the operation of the FIG.7 diagram.

[0030] FIGS. 9-10 are additional diagrammatic representations of screendisplays of the user interface for the system and process of theinvention.

[0031]FIG. 11 is a flow chart for understanding the operation of theFIGS. 9-10 diagrams.

[0032] FIGS. 12-13 are diagrammatic representations of taping and tapeindex screen displays of the user interface for the system and processof the invention.

[0033]FIG. 14-17 are diagrammatic representations of program selectionby category screen displays of the user interface for the system andprocess of the invention.

[0034]FIG. 18 is a flow chart for understanding operation of the FIGS.14-18 diagrams.

[0035]FIG. 19 is a flow chart for understanding operation of the FIG. 20diagram.

[0036]FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic representation of a channelcustomization screen display of the user interface for the system andprocess of the invention.

[0037]FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic plan view of a control panel for thesystem of the invention.

[0038]FIGS. 22a and 22 b are block diagrams of television schedulesystems in accordance with the invention.

[0039]FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a system for interfacing a cabletelevision decoder to a television accessory in accordance with oneaspect of the invention.

[0040]FIG. 24 is a more detailed block diagram of the system shown inFIG. 23.

[0041]FIG. 25 shows a setup screen for a background guide according toone aspect of the present invention.

[0042]FIGS. 26a and 26 b show background guide presentations accordingto one aspect of the present invention.

[0043]FIG. 27 shows a screen presentation according to another aspect ofthe present invention.

[0044]FIGS. 28A and B illustrate grazing functions according to aparticular aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] I. User Interface

[0046] Turning now to the drawings, more particularly to FIGS. 1-7,there are shown a series of menu screens 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22used in operation of the system and carrying out the process of theinvention. Screens 10, 12, 14, 18 and 20 each consists of an array 24 ofirregular cells 26, which vary in length, corresponding to differenttelevision program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half hours ormore. The array is arranged as three columns 28 of one-half hour induration, and twelve rows 30 of program listings. Some of the programlistings overlap two or more of the columns 28 because of their length.Because of the widely varying length of the cells 26, if a conventionalcursor used to select a cell location were to simply step from one cellto another, the result would be abrupt changes in the screens 10, 12,14, 18 and 20 as the cursor moved from a cell 26 of several hours lengthto an adjacent cell in the same row. Such abrupt changes disorient auser of the system.

[0047] An effective way of taming the motion is to assume that behindevery array 24 is an underlying array of regular cells. By restrictingcursor movements to the regular cells, abrupt screen changes will beavoided. However, there is now a potential ambiguity between theunderlying cell which governs cursor movement and a visible cell 26which holds the program title.

[0048] Viz.: if the cursor moves in half hour steps, and the cell lengthis, say four hours, should the cursor be ½ hour long or four hours long?If the cursor only spans the interval of the underlying cell ( ½ hour),the cursor appears to be highlighting a segment of the cell, which ismisleading. On the other hand, if the cursor spans the entire four hoursof the TV listing, the cursor underlying position will be obscure. Inthis case, cursor right/left commands will appear inoperative whiletraversing a long cell. The absence of feedback following a cursorcommand is befuddling to users. Therefore, an innovative cursor 32(FIG. 1) for the irregular array 24 is required which satisfies severalconflicting requirements.

[0049] With the cursor 32, the entire cell 26 is 3D highlighted, using aconventional offset shadow 34. The offset shadow 34 is a black bar thatunderlines the entire cell and wraps around the right edge of the cell.To tag the underlying position—which defines where the cursor 32 is andthus, where it will move next—portions 36 of the black bar outside thecurrent underlying position are segmented, while the current position ispainted solid.

[0050] For an half hour cell 26, the offset shadow's underline bar willalways be solid black. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the cursor 32 as it appearsfor a half-hour program. For programs that go beyond ½ hour, only thecurrent ½ hour position will be solid black. All remaining positionswill be stripped. If the cursor is moved left or right, the solidsection will move accordingly, providing complete visual feedback. Thus,this modified 3D offset shadow cursor 32 satisfies the demands statedabove: it spans the entire cell, yet clearly highlights the currentunderlying position. Movement of the cursor 32 will always be visibleeven for cells 26 that are much longer than the underlying cell.

[0051] A grid continuity icon 38 is shown in FIG. 1. Printed gridtelevision schedule guides often include parenthetical comments, (suchas “cont'd”) to indicate program continuity. In an electronic guidedisplayed on a TV screen, limited text space precludes parentheticalcomments. To conserve space, an icon 38 will be used to indicate cell 26continuity. At the border of a cell 26 that is continued to the nextscreen, an arrow icon 38 pointing to the right will be overlaid. Thearrow direction always points to right, which is the direction ofprogram elapse.

[0052]FIGS. 2 and 3 show recording status representations. When aprogram has been selected for recording, its listing cell 26 will beoutlined or highlighted in red, as indicated at 40. If guard time hasbeen added or deleted, the cell will be stretched or shrunk to reflectthe change. Cell 26 continuity will be treated the same as above. Thereare four other record status representations:

[0053] If the cell is actively being recorded, the outline 40 will blinkoff and on.

[0054] A recorded cell will be displayed with a solid red background 42(Note: Not shown in drawing).

[0055] A mis-recorded cell will be indicated by red hash-marks 44 overthe title. A mis-recording can be the result of insufficient tape, VCRloss of power, stopped before completion, etc.

[0056] A program linking icon 46 is shown in FIG. 5. After each scheduleupdate, the schedule system examines the new listings for the occurrenceof any titles that match a title in Linked Titles (FIG. 23). If a titlematches, it will automatically be tagged for recording. When a linkedprogram is displayed in the guide, it will have two identifiers: a redoutline 40 indicating that the title has been selected for recording,and a link icon 46 appended to the title to indicate that this title waslink-selected. After a linked program has been recorded, it will betreated like any recorded program with the title shaded in red. Todifferentiate this recording from others, the link icon will remainappended to the title.

[0057] Further details on the linking feature are given in screen 19 ofFIG. 23. 1) A linked program 47 may be suspended by the user (perhaps toavoid conflict with a pending recording), by de-selecting the link titlein the Link List screen, under the Record Memo command. A suspended linkprogram will still be identified by a link icon, but the red-outlinewill be suppressed since the program will not be recorded. 2) A smartlink process is used to tame the matching of titles when there is alikelihood of excessive candidates for recording. The Lucy show, forexample, is often syndicated on several channels, each running adifferent vintage series of Lucy. Untamed linking may result in aplethora of recording, mixing segments from one vintage with segmentsfrom another vintage. To differentiate vintages of a series, each Lucyvintage can be given a distinct title. For example, one may be entitled“The Lucy Hour”, while another may be “The Lucy Show”, etc. However, dueto syndication right overlaps, it is possible for two or more televisionor cable TV stations to carry the same vintage of a series, but still berunning different segments of the same vintage. For such series, thelink list will include the channel and time as well as the link title.For the avid Lucy-phile, the user can locate each series individuallyfor linking. If there is more than one link title of the same name, theseries will be numbered, in the order of acquisition. Thus, the secondLucy will be identified as Lucy (Two), at 47.

[0058] FIGS. 1-3 show the columns 28 headed by half-hour header statusindicators. The ½ hour header strip across the top of the grid TV guidehas two auxiliary functions: 1) as an indicator 48 of pending orin-progress recording scheduled at that time, and 2) as a time-bar 50 todelineate the past from the future. The past is darkened, while thefuture is lightly shaded. If there is an in-progress recording, the ½hour header will be red-outlined at 48 in the same manner as a pendingrecording title cell 26.

[0059]FIG. 6 shows a television schedule grid screen 20 with a programnote overlay 52. With limited text capacity on TV displays, it ispreferable to display as many lines of TV listings as feasible. Tohandle program notes, which are text intensive, on-demand overlays 52are used. Program note overlays 52 may include any or all of thefollowing information: A program genre Program description Stars andpersonalities Year of release Episodic subtitles Run-time of programElapse time of the program critique (Star Ratings) Rating (PG, G, etc.)Call letter, channel markers Closed caption, stereo. Pay Per ViewProgram

[0060] Program notes for a selected program are overlaid over the gridguide upon request. The program note can be toggled off/on using aSELECT command. The program note 52 overlays and hides 3 or 4 listingsof a guide. To minimize concealment of the guide, an auto-roving note isused. The program note will overlay either the top half or bottom halfof the screen, as necessary to avoid masking the title of the selectedlisting. If the cursor 32 is in the upper half of the screen, the notewill appear in the bottom half, and vice versa. If the cursor 32 ismoved to the lower half of the screen, the note will automaticallyposition itself in the upper half of the screen.

[0061] FIGS. 1-3 and 5-6 show a channel column 54 in the televisionschedule grid 24. Favorite stations and cable channels may be listedtogether to create a personalized grid guide. The channel column 54,unlike most printed TV guides, has a mix of over-the-air station namesand cable services names.

[0062] The grid 24 guide lists channels by favorite combinations ofstation number and cable names, and not in the usual numerical order.Note that the order of channels can be arranged in any sequence, andneed not be the numeric grouping followed by alphabetical grouping, asshown in the figures. For example, the first channel of column 54 may beDIS, followed next by channel 44, next by A&E, next channel 4, etc. Themethod of rearranging the channels is described in detail below. Whenviewing the grid 24 guide, a Tuner Up/Down channel command will bemapped according to the channels and order listed on the screen. Whennot viewing the guide, the tuner sequence will revert back to the usualnumerical order. When the last channel on a page is reached, the nextTuner command will change the channel to the channel listed at thebeginning of the following page.

[0063] When a channel to which the tuner is tuned is displayed on thegrid 24, it is highlighted, as shown at 56. A grid 24 page may bechanged by either a page command or by entering a channel Up/Dn commandas described above. If a page is turned using the page command, thecurrent channel is now located in the previous page, and will not beseen in the new page. Therefore, the new page must suppress thehighlighting of a channel, since that indicates the current channel.Note that information about the current channel will still be presentedin the channel information boxes 58 at the bottom of the screen.

[0064] When is the highlighting re-enabled? Once into the new page, thefirst channel up/down command will cause the tuner to automaticallychange to the channel listed in the last or first row 30 respectively ofthe new page. Since the tuner channel is now located on the new page,the current channel will be highlighted again.

[0065] If the channel highlighting is not suppressed after a page isselected, by definition, the tuner must be changed to track thehighlighted channel. This is undesirable since casual paging should notcause the channel to change.

[0066] When a guide is first opened, as shown in FIG. 2, both the cursor32 and the current channel 56 are situated on the same row 30 of thegrid 24. When the channel 56 is changed, it is desirable to drag thecursor 32 along with the channel in unison. In doing so, the cursor 32will be ready for a Select command (to retrieve the program note) or fora Record It command. Cursor dragging by the channel command takes placewhenever the channel 56 and cursor 32 are united on the same row. Ifthey are not united, the cursor 32 is disengaged from the channelcommand. Note that dragging is not reciprocal; moving the cursor 32 doesnot affect channel selection.

[0067]FIG. 7 shows a screen 22, showing a program list 58 for a singlechannel, generated by toggling a user What's On TV command, whichswitches between the grid 24 and the list 58. The list 58 consists ofrows 60 of sequential program listings on the channel and a channelinformation field 62. Program notes are overlaid on the list 58 in thesame manner as shown in FIG. 6 for the grid 24.

[0068] Each What's On TV command alternates between the grid guide 24and the What's Next on Channel row guide 58. While viewing the gridguide 24, the next What's On TV command will replace the grid guide 24with a single-channel row guide 58. FIG. 8 is the flow diagram for theWhat's On TV command.

[0069] The page relationship between the two guides 24 and 58 aretightly coupled. The single channel guide will open to the channel andschedule time that was selected by the cursor 32 on the grid 24. Whileviewing the single channel guide 58, the Up/Down channel command may beused to change the channel to be listed. When exiting the single channelguide 58 and returning to the grid guide 24, the grid cursor 32 will bepointed to the channel and schedule time last selected on the singlechannel guide 58.

[0070]FIGS. 9 and 10 show channel grazing overlays 64 and 66 thatprovide information on current programs when switching channels whilewatching television. In the overlay 64, when scanning channels, thetitle of each program is overlaid at 68, along with the name of the TVservice (HBO, ABC etc.), the cable channel number, and the current date,day of week, and time in the channel information field 62. The overlay66 is the same as the overlay 64 except that this overlay includes aprogram note 70, which is similar to the program note 52 in FIG. 6, butcontains information pertinent to a program currently being broadcast onthe selected channel. To access program notes, press the Select key. Inaddition to the program note 70, elapsed time is indicated by apercentage calibrated time bar 72. The bar is bracketed by S for start,and F for finish. By default, titles will appear automatically whenchannels are scanned. Grazing Titles may be de-activated using theCANCEL key. To restore auto-titles, press Select while viewing TV. Theflow diagram governing titles/program notes, while viewing TV, is shownin FIG. 11.

[0071] An express recording screen 74 is shown in FIG. 12. The expressrecording screen includes the following information:

[0072] Title of Program

[0073] Length of Program

[0074] Tape Time Remaining

[0075] Recording Speed.

[0076]FIG. 13 shows a tape index screen 76. Locating a recorded segmentis often an arduous task when several programs have been recorded on thetape. Without a table of contents, the VCR users muddle throughstretches of recording trying to find what's recorded on the tape, wherethe beginning of the desired program is, and where the tape is now. Somepremium VCRs provide tape indexing that automatically finds the start ofeach recording. However, while the viewer can find the start of arecording, the indexing VCRs do not record titles. The net result isabout as useful as a having a table of contents without chapter titles.Considerable searching is still required to find what is recorded ateach index. The tape index screen 76 provides a virtual tape directory,giving the equivalent function of a table of contents for a taperecording. There is a list 78 of titles of recorded programs, a pointer80 to the start of the program, and a current position indicator cursor82 showing the “chapter” location on the tape. The virtual directory isautomatically compiled, revised and stored in off-tape memory as theuser records over the tape.

[0077] The What's on Tape command will display a list of titles ofprograms recorded on the tape. The title of the selected program (thesegment of tape that is positioned over tape head) is highlighted by thecursor 82. The tape position pointer 80 dynamically tracks the currenttape position. All searching is done simply by title, bypassing the needfor index numbers. To play back a program, the up/down cursor command isused to select the program. For example, to play back Judge, the downcursor is pressed until it highlights the program Judge. As seen in FIG.13, the tape head is currently positioned over Star Trek with the cursoron Star Trek. When the cursor is moved to Judge, the tape willimmediately begin going forward to the start of Judge. Although thecursor immediately underscores the Judge listing, the tape lags behindas shown by tape position indicator 80, which will be gradually movingdown. To graphically portray tape movement, a tape motion indicatorfield, block 100, is provided, as explained below.

[0078] The tape directory is equivalent to a table of contents showingtitles, but not page number. It automatically opens to the starting pageby simply pointing to the title of the program. In addition to the tapedirectory 78 of recorded programs, the screen 76 includes a programduration field 84, a recorded speed of each title field 86, a remainingtime left on tape field 88, a remaining time left on program field 90and a next scheduled recording time field 92.

[0079] The virtual tape directory is generated as follows. It isdifficult to implement a competent self-contained tape directory for anon-random access storage such as a video tape. No matter where thedirectory is stored on the tape, the latent access time to locate thedirectory and return to current position (for a standard six hour tape)is excruciating slow, in the order of 6 to 10 minutes.

[0080] If redundant directories are recorded uniformly across the tapeto minimize latency time, the problem of sluggishness is merely shiftedfrom playback to updating the multiple directories. After each videoprogram is recorded, the entire tape must be scanned to update eachdirectory. Even if this update process is automated, there is a questionof excessive wear on tapes and the VCR itself. Viz.: each recording, nomatter how short, results in high-speed scanning of the entire tape inorder to revise all directories.

[0081] Even more troubling is the question of when to perform theupdate, since there is no “safe” period for the VCR to take control. Forexample, the user may have stopped the tape momentarily, perhaps to skipcommercials, only to find that the VCR has commandeered control andplace the tape in a high speed update mode. The safest update is onethat is user-initiated. Unfortunately, few VCR users will follow aregimented procedure of updating after each recording session. Clearly,an on-tape directory based on existing technology is not satisfactory.

[0082] The following innovative solution, the “virtual tape directory”,stores directory information in off-tape memory and does not require anon-tape directory or any augmentation of the video cassette. Since thedirectory is held in external memory instead of the tape, it is bestsuited for tapes that have recently been played and recorded, the“working tapes”.

[0083] When a program is recorded, the title of the program is writtento the data (control track) channel of the tape and, at the same timestored in a non-volatile (NV) memory. Other information about therecorded program, such as length of program, theme category, daterecorded, and tape identifier code may be written to the data channel,as well as stored in the NV memory. The NV memory is adequate to supporta number of working tapes.

[0084] When a tape is first loaded, the tape data channel will bescanned for a few seconds to identify the recorded program under thetape head. This data will be matched against the directories stored inNV memory. If there is a match, the directory of the working tape willbe displayed immediately when the What's On Tape key is pressed. The“virtual” tape directory appears to have been read from the tape, but isactually obtained from NV memory.

[0085] If there is no match, a new directory for the tape will becreated. During playback and recording of this tape, a virtual directorywill be generated for that tape. Directories of inactive tapes will beautomatically purged from memory as new working tapes are introduced.

[0086] The foregoing off-tape realization of the virtual tape directoryis an approach that can be implemented without any alterations toexisting video cassettes. However, with minor augmentation of the videotape cassette and video recorder mechanism, a true random-accesspermanent directory for each tape can be realized.

[0087] In a preferred implementation, a digitally encodable read\writeplanar magnetic strip is located on a surface of the video cassette.Ideally, the strip will be located on one of the four planes which areorthogonal to the direction of video cassette insertion, for a frontloading VCR. A most preferred location is on the face of the videocassette, which is usually reserved for a 1½″ by 2″ label. In the videorecorder, a read\write magnetic head is located to be aligned with themagnetic strip as the cassette is inserted. The head comes into contactwith the magnetic strip when the cassette is loaded or removed from therecorder. As the cassette is inserted, the stored data from the stripwill be read and transferred to the tape directory buffer of theelectronic guide. When programs are recorded on or erased from the tape,the content of the tape directory buffer will be updated to reflect theprogram content and index location of the program on the video tape. Asthe video cassette is ejected from the recorder, the content of the tapedirectory will be transferred to the magnetic strip on the videocassette. By augmenting the video cassette with a random access rewritepermanent memory, directory information for the tape is retained longafter a video record session. This method is a significant improvementover using the tape media itself to record directory information.

[0088] In the above method, the movement of the video cassette magneticstrip during cassette insertion and ejection over a stationary magnetichead allows the magnetic flux changes to be sensed. Alternatively, amoving or rotating read\write magnetic head mounted on the videorecorder can be used to scan a stationary magnetic strip after the videocassette is loaded. In this variation, data from the magnetic strip canbe read and updated immediately from the tape directory buffer. Suchmagnetic strip encoding is similar to that commonly used in creditcards, personnel identification tags, security entrance cards, etc. Asanother alternative, optical read\write methods may be used instead ofmagnetic encoding.

[0089] It is relatively easy to estimate remaining time of a scheduledtelevised program with the assist of a clock and a TV schedule. Incontrast, there are few clues as to current location during playback ofa recorded program, particularly when there are several recordedsegments on a tape. Tape index counters or running-time clocks requirediligent bookkeeping before the start of a recorded segment. Fewconsumers will tinker with 5 or 6 digit numbers when a “ballpark”indicator is adequate, such as, “is the program about over?”, or “aboutwhen does the next segment starts?”. Clearly, there is need to provide alocation indicator without the burden of bookkeeping.

[0090] To provide an at-a-glance indicator of relative tape location, anon-screen tape position gauge 94 has been devised. The tape positiongauge 94 consists of a vertical bar 96 with the arrow pointer 80 locatedon the left edge of the screen 76. The arrow 80 dynamically tracks thecurrent tape position, as the tape is advanced or rewound.

[0091] The gauge 94 is graduated, not in linear units, but in units ofrecorded segments 98 with each segment labelled with its program title.Thus, a 10 minute program or a 6 hour program is represented as onevertical unit corresponding to the height of the left vertical edge of atitle line. Since the left vertical edge of a title is the same for allprograms (independent of program duration), the position indicator isonly a rough approximation of actual tape position. If the arrow ispointing at the upper 25% of the left vertical edge of a title line, itindicates that the tape head is positioned approximately into the first25% of the program. If a conventional linear gauge were displayed, a farmore complicated gauge would be required, that would likely confuserather than clarify.

[0092] As noted by the tape position indicator 80 in FIG. 13, the tapehead is positioned to the start of Star Trek. If the viewer wishes toplay back another program, the cursor is simply moved until ithighlights the desired program. As soon as the cursor is moved toanother program, the tape will immediately go forward or backward to theselected program. Tape position pointer 80 will move very slowly if itis scanning past a long program. This motion may not be readilyapparent. To provide an unequivocal graphic representation, a tapemotion indicator field, block 100, indicates direction of scanning andwhether the tape is being prepared for playback or for recording.

[0093] Thus, this tape gauge 94 provides a quick capsule indication ofthe where the tape head is currently positioned, relative to the currentprogram, and relative to other programs or the tape, and the title ofother programs.

[0094] The tape index screen 76 includes a tape motion indicator field100. When the tape is undergoing high speed repositioning, the What's OnThis Tape (WOT) screen 76 will be displayed. During high speed search ofa long program, the tape gauge 94 will appear to be dormant, since thegauge is relatively coarse for programs of long duration. To supplementthe tape gauge 94, the tape indicator 100 is included. During high speedpositioning, one of these messages will be displayed in the space abovetwin-hub tape icon 102: GO PLAY, GO RECORD, FORWARDING, REVERSING,PAUSE, and STOP.

[0095] GO PLAY is displayed while the tape is repositioning to theselected title. When the title is reached, the WOT screen 76 will bedisplaced by the playback video. GO RECORD is displayed while the tapeis positioning to the selected program segment 98, where the newrecording will be written.

[0096] FIGS. 14-17 show Theme function screens 104. The Theme functionallows the viewer to quickly sort the downloaded schedule and display asubset schedule based on a subject of interest. The user has the freedomto select listings sorted first by major themes, second by topic(s)within a theme, and/or by topic qualifiers. All guides sorted by theme,topic and qualifier will be displayed in a row-tabulated format andbegins by listing programs nearest to the current half-hour. The themefunction screens 104 have the following attributes: Rotating Themes.There are four theme categories, with each theme title enclosed inhorizontally-arranged selection boxes 106. From left to right, thethemes are:

[Movies] [Sports] [Specials] [TV Fare]

[0097]FIG. 18 is a flow diagram defining the Theme command. TopicSelection. There are up to 16 topics 108 for each theme arranged in an 8row by two column field 110. Any number of topics may be selected undera selected theme. Topics is a logical OR function, meaning that eachlisting that meets the definition of the topic will be displayed. Forexample under the theme of Movies, if the topic titles Comedy and Satireare selected, a subset schedule of both comedy movies and satire movieswill be displayed. Other qualifiers may include a Pay Per View selectionbox in addition to the Live selection box of FIGS. 16 and 17.

[0098] Default All Selection: when the Theme screen 104 is first opened,the first slot (upper left most topic 108 ) will be highlighted. This isthe ALL function, which is the sum of all topics 108 for the selectedtheme. The ALL function was created to minimize key stroking.

[0099] Without an all topic category, the user must enable all 16 topics108 individually. Conversely, if the user wishes to go from an alltopics to an individual topic, the user must cursor to and deselect eachof the other 15 topics.

[0100] Qualifiers: each theme includes a group of search attributes orqualifiers 112. The qualifiers for each theme 106 are shown in therespective one of FIGS. 14-17 for each theme 106. Any number ofqualifiers can be enabled at one time. These qualifiers perform alogical OR functions; they will select for display all listings (sortedfirst by theme and topic) that satisfy the qualifiers.

[0101] The qualifiers 112 are positioned for easy selection. Theselection of qualifiers is made using the usual cursor commands. When atheme 106 is initially opened, by default, the cursor is located nearthe top of the screen. To minimize cursor commands, the qualifiers arealso located near the top of the screen. In contrast, placing thequalifiers at the bottom of the screen would require a round trip of upto 16 key strokes.

[0102] The complete theme sorting strategy is defined as follows:

Listings=(Topic A+Topic B+etc.) * (Qualifier A+Qualifier b+etc.)

[0103] This may be read as listing all Topic A that also meets QualifierA or Qualifier B, plus all Topic B that also meets Qualifier A orQualifier B, etc. For example, the qualifier field of FIG. 14 includesfour star ****, three star ***, two star ** and one star * rated TVprograms, based on the auxiliary schedule information described above.By selecting both the **** and *** boxes, only programs that have atleast a three star rating will be listed. Other criteria, such as yearof release, may also be included as a qualifier field. In this case, theguide will restrict listings to movies or TV shows released during aspecified year period. The year period may be implemented with twoselection boxes: the first box indicating the start year and the nextbox indicating the end year. To change the year window, the year valuesmay be incremented or decremented with the page up/down keys when a yearbox is selected.

[0104] Qualifiers, topics and themes are rooted in relational databaseoperations and allow logical sorting of the schedule. To support thesehigher order of sorting, auxiliary data must be delivered to the VCR. Incontrast, simple sorting operations, such as sorting by time and bychannel are inherent in the fundamental information of a TV guide, anddo not require auxiliary search data.

[0105] The keystroke sequence for using the themes screens 104 are asfollows. While watching TV, the first Theme key command will summon theopening theme screen with the left most theme, Movies, highlighted.Further theme commands will rotate the theme selection from left toright. Each theme screen will be initialized to the ALL (topics)selection. If no topic selection is made, an all topics guide for theselected theme will be displayed upon depressing the Select/Gotocommand.

[0106] To additionally sort the theme by a single topic, position thecursor key to the desired topic and depress the Select/Goto key. Use thecursor to return to a topic.

[0107] To sort by more than one topic, position the cursor over eachdesired topic and depress the Select key. When finished, pressSelect/Goto to display a multiple-topic guide.

[0108] To sort by one or more attributes, position the cursor over eachdesired attribute and press the Select key. When finished, move thecursor to a topic and press Select/Goto to retrieve thetheme/attribute-sorted TV guide.

[0109] Other than express recording, all recording activities arecontrolled with the Record Memo screen 16 of FIG. 4. The Record Memoscreen 16 is accessed with a Record Memo key. When the Record Menu keyis depressed, the following titles enclosed in horizontally-arrangedselection boxes 114 will appear at the top of the opening screen. Fromleft to right: [Pending [Recorded [Linked [On-Grid Recordings] Programs]Titles] Prog.]

[0110] Each Record Memo key command will highlight a new selection,rotating from left to right, and wrapping around to Pending Recordingsafter the right most position. FIG. 19 is a flow diagram defining theRecord Memo command.

[0111]FIG. 20 shows a Channel Customization screen 116, which is anexample of one embodiment of a channel selection menu. The screen 116allows the user to customize channels to match viewing interest,providing a compact listing as well as eliminating undesired channelsduring up down scanning. During schedule update, a list of all cablechannels available at the subscriber's cable system (or broadcaststations for over-the-air subscribers) is also delivered to the VCR.This unabridged set of channels may be customized using screen 116.

[0112] The channel customization screen 116 has two fields, a 3 columnfield 118 listing up to 36 unabridged channels and a single column field120 listing 12 favorite MY channels. The latter is a replica of thechannel descriptor column 122 (FIG. 1) of the opening grid guide.Additional pages are available (using the page key to swap between thepages) to accommodate systems with more than 36 channels. Each cell 124in the 3 column field 118 contains the following information:

[0113] Channel number and program service name (such as HBO or stationKTVU, 2). The cell 124 is color-coded to indicate the following states:ON, default state before any customization, with the cell 124 in lightgreen background. MY, favorite channels listed in the single columnfield 120, also shown in the three column field 118 with a bluebackground. OFF, a channel deleted from all guides, as well as duringChannel Up/Dn scanning (still accessible using the ten key channelkeypad). OFF cells have a gray background.

[0114] When first installed, the system assigns the first 12 (listed innumerical order) channels as MY favorites. The channel status may bechanged by selecting a channel and picking a state, MY, ON, or OFF usingthe SELECT key. Since only 12 favorites are allowed, the user must firstremove a favorite channel by changing the status of an existing favoritechannel to OFF or ON. When that is done, the first column willautomatically open up a space for the next MY selection. When a new MYis selected, the MY column 120 will automatically insert the newselection in the prescribed order. The order of listing in the MYfavorite channel column 120 is as follows:

[0115] All favorite broadcast stations will be listed first in numericalorder. Next, all cable services will be listed in alphabetical order.

[0116] A new cable service, which displaces a previous service, will beinserted under the previous status. Example: If the channel was MY, thenew service will be MY. However, a new cable service that appears on anew channel will be initialized ON.

[0117] In another embodiment of the channel customization method, anynumber of channels may be arranged to suit the preference of the viewer.In this approach, column 54 is not required and is not displayed.Instead, any channel listed in the three-column field may be re-orderedin any sequence desired. In this method, a channel whose order isdesired to be changed is selected using a cursor. A destination slot isthen selected and the transfer is made, with intervening channels beingadjusted in position towards the source slot. For example, to movechannel 30 DIS to the number one slot (shown occupied by channel 2,KTVU), the source channel (DIS) is first highlighted by positioning thecursor and pressing the SEL/GOTO key. The selected channel will thenappear as slightly offset from its normal position (not shown in thedrawing). The Up/Down cursor commands are then used to move the cursorto the destination slot (KTVU), and the SEL/GOTO key is then pressedagain. Channel 30 (DIS) will then appear in the first slot, and allchannels that were previously from the destination slot to just abovethe source slot will be moved down one slot. If a channel is moved to alower position rather than a higher position, all channels previouslyfrom the destination slot to just after the source slot will be moved upone slot.

[0118] In yet another embodiment of the channel customization method,the viewer can re-order channels using a drag and drop method. Again,the cursor is used to select a channel in a source slot. An imagerepresenting the channel symbol is then dragged into the desireddestination slot for the channel and dropped, and intervening channelsare adjusted as discussed above.

[0119] Another embodiment employs channel customization prompt menus tore-arrange channels. In this approach, each channel label issequentially displayed over time in a default sequence (such asnumeric/alphabetic sequence, or according to the previously selecteduser-sequence). The channels are preferably displayed one at a time. Theviewer can select a priority for each channel as it is displayed. or canskip to the next channel label. If a priority is given, the channel willbe moved into the channel slot corresponding to the entered priority, asif it were selected and moved into that slot as discussed above. Thepriorities that may be assigned range from 1 to 9, the highest number onthe numeric keypad (in some embodiments 0 is used to represent 10). Notethat the total number of channels that can be re-arranged is not limitedto the number of priorities (9). For example, the user could assign thesame priority (such as number 1) to as many channel labels as desired.The last selected channel label would then appear in the number 1 slot,with the remainder immediately following below, according to the orderin which they were selected.

[0120]FIG. 21 shows a front panel 130 for a remote controller of theschedule system. The top half of the front panel 130 corresponds to aconventional remote controller for a television set and a VCR. Includedare a dual function ten key keypad 132, with the alternate functions ofeach key and its digit shown, a TV/VCR toggle key 134, volume andchannel up/down keys 136, and VCR control keys 138. The lower half ofthe front panel 130 contains control keys that are specific to theschedule system. Included are a What's On Tape key 140, a What's On TVkey 142, a Theme key 144, a Record Memo key 146, a Record It key 148, aLink It key 150, a Help/Menu key 152, a Select/Goto key 154, Left,Right, Up, Down and Page Cursor keys 156, a Return TV/VCR key 158 and aCancel/Undo key 160. The use of these keys has either been explainedabove or is apparent from their labels.

[0121]FIGS. 22A and 22 B are block diagrams of television schedulesystems/tape controllers 180 and 182 in which the user interface isused. The schedule system/controller 180 is applicable to existingtelevision equipment, where the schedule system is separate from thebasic television equipment. Programmable tuner 202 is shown as part of acable decoder. The schedule system/controller 182 is shown as integratedinto a VCR 211. In this version, a cable decoder is not required, andtuner 207 is part of the VCR 211. It should be clear from these twosystems 180 and 182 that the schedule/tape controller may be integratedinto other television equipment, such as a cable decoder or a TV/Monitorreceiver. It is also practical to implement the entire schedule/tapecontroller in a remote controller by adding a text display, such as anLCD screen, on remote controller 212.

[0122] In the system 180, programmable tuner 202, which may be part of acable decoder unit, receives a TV signal from antenna 200 and/or fromcable input 205. Tuner output 216 goes to a vertical blanking interval(VBI) decoder 222, which may be a closed caption decoder or a high speedteletext decoder. Listing information and other support information,such as cable channel assignment data, will be transmitted over the VBIby one or more local stations or cable channels several times a day orcontinuously.

[0123] When update is required, programmable tuner 202 will be tunedautomatically to the station or cable channel carrying the data. Afterthe VBI signal is processed by CPU 228, the listing data is stored inschedule memory 232, while the cable channel assignment data is storedin cable-specific RAM memory 238. This data is used to convert genericTV source names, such as HBO, to channel assignments for the specificcable system.

[0124] Other information transmitted to the schedule/tape controller 180and stored in the system RAM memory 240 includes clock update data toset system clock 230 automatically, schedule update time, which may varyfrom once a day to a continuously transmitted format, new themecategories, and last minute schedule change data.

[0125] For a What's on TV request, the listing stored in schedule memory232 is retrieved, processed by CPU 228, and outputted to video displaygenerator 224. Video switcher 226 is enabled by CPU output 246 to selectthe video display generator 224 output whenever schedule data is to bepresented to the TV/monitor 210.

[0126] When a request to time-shift record a program is made, the titleof the program and its record parameters (channel, start time andlength) is copied from the schedule memory 232 to the Record Memo RAMmemory 236. When the system clock 230 matches the schedule time, the CPU228 will issue a channel command to the programmable tuner of the cabledecoder 202 (tuning it to the selected channel), and a power on andrecord command to VCR 206 by means of an infrared remote driver 214directed at infrared input ports of these two devices. In the VCRintegrated version 182, the command to the tuner 207 is made on a wiredbus 264.

[0127] In addition to programming by selecting a title from theon-screen schedule, it is also possible to program the VCR 206 or 211and the cable decoder 202 or 207 with remote controller 212. In thismode, programming information is entered into the remote controller 212,and at the desired activation time, the remote controller 212 will issueprogramming commands to the proper TV device. While there are universalremote controllers that offer programming capability, none allow theuser to enter generic names, such as station and cable channel names,and have the CPU convert the names to specific channels for tuning theVCR or the cable decoder. This is implemented by incorporating CPU 228and the cable-specific RAM 238 in the remote controller 212.

[0128] Remote controller 212 and infrared remote driver 214 are capableof emulating the infrared command instructions required by the cabledecoder 202 and VCR 206. The command emulation codes for the remotedriver 214 are stored in cable decoder IFR code RAM/ROM memory 239.Commands for popular cable decoders and VCRs are pre-programmed in ROM.Alternatively, the infrared commands of the original remote controllermay be learned by aiming the controllers at the IFR input receiver 264and storing the command codes in RAM memory 239 after processing by CPU228. This process is well known in the art of universal remotecontrollers and need not be detailed here.

[0129] As shown in FIG. 22A, the VCR 206 and cable decoder 202 may bemanually controlled by remote controller 212, or it may be automaticallycontrolled by infrared remote driver 214.

[0130] During recording, the tape index location of the VCR 206 will betransmitted over control/data bus 270 to the CPU 228. This start addressinformation is stored in tape directory RAM memory 234, together withthe program title. The bus 270 also carries VCR control commands forrecording, playback, tuner selection, and other functions, includingpower on/off.

[0131] Once a program is recorded, its title and other programinformation is stored in a section of the Record Memo RAM memory 236. Toplay back a recorded program, the What's on Tape request will cause adirectory of recorded programs on the tape to be displayed. When aprogram is selected for playback from this directory, the tape will fastforward or reverse to the tape index location specified in the TapeDirectory RAM memory 234.

[0132] In the system 182, schedule/tape controller 220 is embedded inthe VCR 211. The VCR tape mechanism 252 contains all the record andplayback electronics of the video recorder, less the programmable tuner207. Data recorded on the control track of a tape is coupled to the CPU228 over input bus 258 and output bus 256. The art of recording data onthe control track is well known, for example, in recent VCRs withindexing capability. CPU 228 commands to the VCR 211 are carried overbus 254. When schedule information is to be displayed, video switchercontrol input 246 selects the display generator on line 218. At othertimes, video switcher 226 selects the output of the VCR mechanism 252 online 250. Schedule information may be downloaded from the VBI.Alternatively or supplementally, it may be downloaded from atelecommunication line 370 to modem 268 and to CPU 228 via line 266.Other means of delivering schedule information can be employed,including the use of a subcarrier channel on the cable service.

[0133] It should now be readily apparent to those skilled in the artthat a system and method incorporating a novel user interface capable ofachieving the stated objects of the invention has been provided. Theuser interface that is configured to compensate for the particularnature of the television schedule information. The user interface has acursor operation that compensates for an irregular grid format of thetelevision schedule information. The user interface presents theschedule information in a format that compensates for limited resolutionof the television display. The user interface presents supplementalschedule information in overlays that obscure a minimum amount of usefulother information. Order of presentation of the schedule information inthe interface is customizable by user preference.

[0134] II. Cable Decoder Controller

[0135] Turning now to FIG. 23, there is shown a system 2010 forinterfacing a cable television decoder 2012 to a VCR 2014 incorporatinga television scheduling system of the type disclosed in myabove-referenced issued U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,121, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. As is conventional, the cablesignal is supplied to the cable decoder 2012 on cable 2016, and thedecoded output of the decoder 2012 is supplied to the VCR 2014 throughcable 2018 on a fixed channel. The decoded output on the fixed channelis also selectively supplied to a television set 2019, as indicated at2021. The VCR 2014 receives commands from its remote controller 2020. Acable decoder remote control emulator 2022 is connected at 2023 betweenthe VCR 14 and the cable decoder 12. All channel selection codessupplied to the VCR 2014 by its remote controller 2020 are converted bythe remote control emulator 2022 to command codes recognized by thecable decoder 2012. The remote control emulator 2022 also suppressesexecution of the channel selection codes supplied to the VCR 2014, inorder to keep the VCR 2014 tuned to the fixed channel on which thedecoded cable signal is supplied.

[0136] When the cable decoder mode is selected, channel indicator 2074(FIG. 24) of the VCR will show the channel selected by the cable decoderunit. There are two reasons for using the VCR 2014 to display thechannel number instead of the cable decoder 2012: The cable unit may nowbe hidden from sight, which is desired by most users, and it providesimproved infrared isolation of the VCR remote controller 2020 signalfrom unwanted pickup by the cable decoder remote input 2056 (FIG. 24).The benefit of using the VCR 2014 for channel display is that the cabledecoder unit 2012 can be made transparent to the user.

[0137] One aspect of making the cable decoder unit 2012 transparent tothe user relates to the time of control of the cable decoder. Just asthe schedule system controls the VCR to begin recording at a desiredactivation time, the cable decoder is also controlled and set to thedesired channel at that time. The desired activation time is stored inmemory, along with the channel of the selected program, and these storedvalues are later used to control the cable decoder. The desiredactivation time is typically the broadcast time of the selected program.It should also be noted that in order to allow for possible inaccuraciesin the local system clock time and for variations in the actualbroadcast times, the effective broadcast time employed by the schedulesystem and remote control emulator will typically include a guard timeon the order of a few minutes to either end of the scheduled programtime period. Controlling the cable decoder at the time of broadcast iscritical to making the cable decoder transparent to the user, because ifthe cable decoder were not controlled at that time, one schedule requestcould interfere with another schedule request or with a user manualchannel selection. This storing in memory of both channels and desiredactivation times for program selections is performed whether or not theprogram selections are being entered through an interactive electronicschedule system or are simply being entered manually from a printedtelevision schedule guide.

[0138] The remote control emulator 2022 drives an infrared emitter,which is positioned in front of an infrared input on the cable decoder2012. Thus, the remote control emulator 2022 replaces the conventionalcable decoder remote controller. The user communicates with the systemusing the VCR remote controller 2020. For the user, the system 2010appears to function in the same manner as would the VCR 2014 connectedto the TV 2019 with no cable decoder 2012 present. This means that allfunctions, including on screen programming and the TV schedule system,provided with the VCR 2014 are fully functional and are operateduniformly by the user and interact with the user uniformly.

[0139] Further details of portions of the VCR 2014 and the cable remoteemulator 2022 are provided in FIG. 24. As indicated at 2024, the remoteemulator 2022 is supplied together with the VCR 2014. The VCR 2014includes a programmable tuner 2026 connected to an RF modulator 2028 bycable 30. The cable decoder 12 is connected to the programmable tuner2026 by the cable 2018, and the RF modulator 2028 is connected to the TV2019 by cable 2032. The remote controller 20 supplies its inputs to aremote receiver 2034 in the cable remote emulator 2022. The remotereceiver 2034 is connected to a central processing unit (CPU) 2036 byline 2038. The CPU 2036 is implemented with a commercially availablemicroprocessor integrated circuit, such as those available from IntelCorporation, Santa Clara, Calif., or Motorola, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz. TheCPU 2036 is connected to a random access memory 2044 and to cabledecoder code memory 2046, which may be either a random access or a readonly memory, by busses 2048 and 2050. The CPU 2036 is connected to aremote driver circuit 2052 by the line 2023. The remote driver circuit2052 is connected to an infrared emitter 2054, which is positioned infront of remote input 2056 of the cable decoder 2012. The CPU 2036 isconnected to the programmable tuner 2026 through a latch 2070 by lines2071 and 2076 and to a channel display 2074 by line 2072. The latch 2070is also connected to the CPU 2036 by line 2058. The latch 2070 allowsthe channel data to be shown on the display 2074 to be separated fromdata which is supplied to the programmable tuner 2026. Data is suppliedto the programmable tuner 2026 only when the latch is enabled on line2058.

[0140] In operation, the cable remote emulator 2022 is either programmedto learn the cable decoder 2012 remote controller codes in theconventional manner for teaching a remote controller to learn thecommands of a foreign controller, which are then stored in the cabledecoder code memory 2046, or the memory 2046 contains conversion codesstored in ROM for the more popular cable decoder 2012 models. The TVschedule system, which also utilizes the CPU 2036, is set to the cablemode by a command from the remote controller 2020. This causes theprogrammable tuner 2026, also forming part of the TV schedule system, tobe non-responsive to the remote controller 2020 channel commands, as aresult of a suitable control signal on line 2058, so that the tuner willremain tuned to the fixed channel for the cable decoder 2012, typicallychannel 3 or 4. However, the channel commands are stored in memory 2044.Whenever the TV schedule system requires channel information, it willrefer to the stored channel information. For example, when the TVschedule system is opened, it will point to the channel currently beingviewed/recorded. When a program is selected from the TV schedule system,the system will automatically generate codes recognizable by the cabledecoder 2012 to change the channel on the cable decoder 2012. When acable input is not being used, the latch 2070 is enabled on line 2058,so that channel commands on line 2071 are supplied to the programmabletuner 2026.

[0141] Remote controller 2020 commands are infrared coupled to the CPU2036 and stored in memory 2044. When the system 2010 includes a cabledecoder 2012, all channel tuning commands from the remote controller2020 are inhibited in favor of cable decoder channel commands recognizedby the cable decoder and produced by the CPU 2036 through conversionfrom the channel tuning commands. The conversion code is contained in aROM, or a RAM if the system 2010 has a “learn” mode. After a delay toprevent potential conflict of two infrared signals, the converted codeis coupled to the cable decoder remote input 2056 by the infraredemitter 2054. The process of emulating codes recognizable by the cabledecoder 2012 is done in a conventional manner known in the art. Allother commands from the remote controller 2020 are acted upon in thesystem 2010 unchanged.

[0142] Thus, as discussed above, in one embodiment a system forinterfacing a cable television decoder having an input for receivingtelevision signals including a plurality of channels and an output fordirecting a selected channel from the television signals to a televisionor television accessory includes a programmable tuning means forselecting a desired television channel signal (connected to the outputof the cable television decoder to receive the selected channel on afixed channel from the cable television decoder), means (connected tothe programmable tuning means) for inhibiting the programmable tuningmeans from tuning to the selected television channel when the cabletelevision decoder is operational, means for emulating the channelselecting commands of the cable television decoder, means (connected tothe emulating means) for transmitting emulated channel selectingcommands from the emulating means to the cable television decoder, andmeans (coupled to the emulating means) for making television channelselections. The means for making television channel selections alsoincludes means for setting a desired activation time for a channelselection, and the system includes a memory (connected to the emulatingmeans) for storing television channel selections and desired activationtimes for the television channel selections.

[0143] While the preferred embodiment is directed to controlling thetuner of a cable decoder, the teachings of the present invention areequally applicable to the control of a tuner of a satellite receiver, atelecommunication fiber optic tuner/receiver used to receive TVprogramming, or any TV tuner apparatus with a tuner that preselectstelevision programs for recording by a VCR. By controlling thepreselection TV tuner, the VCR on-screen unattended recordingprogramming functions need not be duplicated by the preselection TVtuner apparatus. Moreover, the viewer is not burdened with the task ofprogramming more than one TV apparatus.

[0144] It should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that anovel system for interfacing a cable television decoder to a televisionaccessory capable of achieving the stated objects of the invention hasbeen provided. The system and method provides a single tuningarrangement which will coordinate channel selection information betweena cable decoder and a television schedule system, a VCR or anytelevision device. The tuning arrangement is compatible with alreadyinstalled equipment. The single tuning arrangement eliminatesduplicative programming effort and preserves the advanced features oftelevision devices, such as on-screen programming of unattendedrecording, even when operating behind cable decoders and other TVapparatus with preselection tuners.

[0145] III. Background Guide.

[0146] This aspect of the invention is directed to a convenientbackground mode for the electronic guide which presents several lines ofguide information, typically occupying the bottom quarter of the screen,overlaying the current television program. The background mode enablesthe viewer to manually or automatically scroll through preselectedportions of the schedule information. This preselected information isnot just limited to information about a single current (or otherwiseselected) program. This background scrolling guide is particularlyconvenient during a lull in television programming, such as a commercialbreak. As a supplement to the full-screen foreground guide, thebackground mode eliminates the need to master the advance navigationcommands of the full-screen guides.

[0147] Due to the limited amount of listing information that can bedisplayed in the background guide, preselection of the listing isessential. An indiscriminate scrolling of every listing in a typical oneweek guide would require 8 hours, even if each listing is scrolled at arate of one per three seconds. Limiting the listings to a fixed timeperiod, such as the current day, current hour, or primetime is a firststep toward implementing a useful background guide. Other selectioncriteria, such as channel or theme, can be logically combined to furtherfilter the listings down to a total that can be read in a fraction of anhour.

[0148] In existing non-interactive scrolling guides available on somecable systems, the listing cannot be controlled by the viewer. Each timethe viewer switches the tuner to the guide channel, the listings is atsome random point in the one week guide. Listings are groupedchronologically, by day and start time. Under each group are channelidentifiers arranged numerically or by cable source name if it is alisting for cable-TV programming. Without user interaction, there islittle chance that the viewer will randomly tune to the guide channeland see desired listings at the desired time and channels without atedious wait. For an interactive background guide, the ability to resumeand continue forward from the last listing is highly desirable.

[0149] In the present invention, there is a concept of a guide sessionwhich allows the user to open the background guide repeatedly,interleaved with non-background guide activities, such as watching TV orusing the foreground guide. During a session, specific setup criteriafor the background is persistent and stored in electronic memory. Thismay include the time-period over which the listings are scrolled,whether the scrolling is manual or automatic, the channel of the lastlisting, whether sorting by theme has been setup, whether sorting byfavorite channels has been setup. One or all criterion may be manuallychanged without terminating a session. Some criteria may beautomatically changed if the cursor or setup of the foreground guide ischanged. A session is completed if the background guide has not beenaccessed for a certain period of time, or the user manually selects anew session. A typical setup screen for the background schedule guide isshown in FIG. 25, in which setup screen 3010 occupies all of televisionscreen 3020.

[0150] During a session, each time the viewer opens the backgroundguide, the initial listing will continue from (or repeat) the lastlisting displayed in the previous background guide access. The pointerto the current listing within a set of schedule information is known asa tab. The tab can be advanced by manual or automatic scrolling.Additionally, if the current system clock time catches up to a tab in atime-indexed set of schedule information, the tab can be pushed forwardfrom then on in step with the system clock until overridden by a user.The tab is pushed forward as broadcasts end. If the system clocksurpasses the tab, once all programs at the tab time setting are over,the tab setting will be advanced.

[0151] The default setting for the tab when the guide is first opened isthe earliest start time of any program that is still being broadcast atthe time the guide is opened. The tab is then advanced, and listingsprinted, repeatedly, until the guide screen space is filled. From thatpoint on the tab can be advanced by either manual scrolling or automaticscrolling. Automatic scrolling can be at a fixed number of listings pertime period, or can simply be from the tab being pushed forward byprogram broadcasts ending, as described above.

[0152] A session does not end when scrolled to the end of the timeperiod window, but repeats itself when all listings in a time-periodhave been scrolled. By providing persistent storage of the lasttime-period, the last listing, or tab, within the time period, the lastchannel, and the setup criteria for the foreground guide, the viewer isfreed from the chore of remembering and reentering a host of backgroundsetup criteria each time the background guide is opened. This isillustrated in FIGS. 26a and 26 b. FIG. 26a shows the display of abackground guide 3110. If at three o'clock the user suspends thebackground guide for an hour, and then reactivates it within the samesession, the display upon reactivation would be as shown in FIG. 26b.Backround guide display 3120 of FIG. 26b is determined by the samestored operating characteristics such as theme, time period, manuallyscrolling, automatically scrolling, etc., as were used for the displayof FIG. 26a. Note that the tab, or the pointer to the current listing,has been pushed forward from three o'clock to four o'clock by theadvancing time on the system clock. The status of displays 3110 and 3120are substantially the same, except that the passage of time causes thedisplayed schedule information to only partially overlap.

[0153] In the preferred implementation, pressing the background guidecommand once will start display of a background guide. It will listprograms according to previous criteria selected by the setup menus forthe background guide and the foreground guide. Depending on the priorsetup, the background guide may automatically scroll, or may be manuallystepped using the Page Up/Dn keys. The channel of the backgroundlistings may be sequenced by pressing the Channel Up/Dn key. Dependingon the background mode selected, pressing a Channel key will cause thelisting to jump to the next channel that is defined either by theChannel Up/Dn keys, or according to the sequence defined under theforeground guide. Pressing the TV, Guide, or Theme key will terminatethe background guide display, but not the session.

[0154] To change the mode of the background guide, the background guidecommand is entered again while a background guide is displayed. Abackground guide setup menu will be displayed displacing the backgroundlistings. One such setup screen 3010 is shown in FIG. 25, in which setupscreen 3010 is shown to cover the entire television screen 3020. Inalternative embodiments, the setup screen occupies only the same portionof the television screen as the background guide. From the setup menu,the viewer may select another background mode:

[0155] Scroll current listings for all channels. This is the defaultmode when a new session is started.

[0156] Scroll listings for current channel,

[0157] Scroll listings according to the selection criteria when theforeground guide mode was last exited,

[0158] Scroll according to the theme criteria when the theme guide waslast exited.

[0159] The setup menu also allows the viewer to change the time periodfrom the default period. The default time period is the current time toprograms starting in the next 3 hours. The time period is shown by starttime block 3030 and end time block 3040. At the end of the time-period,the listing will loop back to the start of the time-period. If there isa Primetime command, actuating this command will cause the time-periodto be automatically set to the designated primetime. The viewer can alsoselect a new session, in which all the default selections (including thedefault time-period) will be reinstated.

[0160] The following is a detailed description of each mode:

[0161] 1) All selected channel scroll. This is the default mode when anew session is started. The first listing of the background guide is forthe program on the current tuner channel. Pressing the page up/down keymomentarily will manually advance the listings starting with the listinggroup for the current time. When all channels with the current starttime is displayed, the next group of listings for the next start timewill be displayed. Pressing the page key for 3 seconds, or longer, willstart automatic scrolling of the guide. The guide will scroll throughall channels which have been declared favorites in the foreground gridguide. If the favorite channel menu has not been setup, by default, allchannels will be considered favorites. Typically, all channels listed inthe opening few pages of the grid guide are favorite channels.

[0162] a) Pressing a channel key will cause the listing to jump to thenext channel listed in the grid guide. The Up channel key will causelisting to advance to the next higher listed channel, and to theprevious listed channel for the Down channel key. Pressing the page keymomentarily will cause scrolling to stop. The next page key command willresume manual scrolling of the background guide.

[0163] b) Pressing the primetime command will change the time-period tomatch the primetime period. The latter has a default time of 7 PM to11PM, but may be defined by the user when setting up the foregroundguide.

[0164] c) The viewer can immediately change tuner channel to one that isdisplayed in the background guide by pressing the Enter key. Thebackground mode is not exited, and the viewer may continue scrolling thebackground guide.

[0165] d) To exit, press TV or any other mode command.

[0166] e) To resume the background mode last selected, press thebackground guide key. If the session is not over, the guide willcontinue from the last listing displayed.

[0167] While a background guide is displayed, pressing the backgroundguide command key will toggle presentation of the setup menu. Anothermode can be selected without ending the current session. For example, asingle channel mode can be selected and scrolled over the currenttime-period. Pressing the background guide command again will toggleback to TV viewing with a background guide.

[0168] 2) Single channel scroll. This mode may be selected by pointingto the Single Channel mode in the setup menu, or by entering the number#2 key. The single channel background guide is almost identical to thesingle channel foreground guide, except that only one or two programs isdisplayed.

[0169] a) Pressing the page up/down command will manually displaylisting for the selected channel. If the page key is held down for threeseconds, or longer, the guide will scroll at a predetermined rateautomatically in the direction of the selected channel key (up or down).To return to manual scrolling, press the page key momentarily andrelease.

[0170] b) Pressing either the up/down channel key will cause the listingto jump to the listing for the next channel.

[0171] c) The viewer can immediately change tuner channel to one that isdisplayed in the background guide by pressing the Enter key. Thebackground mode is not exited, and the viewer may continue scrolling thebackground guide.

[0172] d) To exit, press TV or any other mode command.

[0173] e) Press the background guide command to resume listing. If a newsession is not started, the first displayed listing will continue fromthe last listing scrolled before exiting the background mode.

[0174] Pressing the background command will open the setup menu. Adifferent time-period can be selected if desired. Alternatively, theuser can select New Session, to reset to the default time-period. Or theviewer can select another background mode. After the setup menuselection is completed, pressing the background guide command guide willrestart display of the background guide.

[0175] 3) Scroll according to the criteria setup for the guide. Thisbackground mode preselects display listing according to the guide modethat was last active. It can be the grid guide, or the theme guide. Thismode provides an alternative way of viewing the listings normally seenon the grid guide or the theme guide, whichever was last viewed.Specifically, the start time is indicated by the leading edge of thegrid guide cursor. The default time-period is 3 hours. This backgroundguide will scroll through the listings of channels that are defined inthe grid guide.

[0176] A typical application for this mode is as follows: assume thatthe viewer has started browsing the grid guide and decides to return toTV viewing. During the next commercial break, the viewer can open thebackground guide to resume displaying listings of programs starting atthe cursor position in the grid guide. This eliminates the need tospecify favorite channels in the background guide duplicating the setupeffort of the grid guide. Likewise, if the viewer was browsing the themeguide, the background guide will resume listings of programs at thecursor position in the theme guide. This eliminates the need for thereviewer to setup theme and subtheme criteria in the background mode.

[0177] a) Pressing the Enter key will cause the tuner channel to changeimmediately to the listed channel in the background guide.

[0178] b) Pressing the page key will manually advance the listings.Momentarily holding the page key down for several seconds will cause thedisplay to automatically scroll. Pressing any page key again will causethe scrolling to stop and to resume manual advancing of the listings.

[0179] c) To exit, press TV or any other mode command.

Channel Presentation on the Grid Guide.

[0180] It is desirable to list programs in the order of most favoritechannels instead of sequentially by channel number or alphabetically asin a printed television guide. A channel menu is provided to allow theviewer to arrange channel listings in the preferred order. In this way,the most favorite channels will be grouped together, on one or twopages, greatly reducing the need to perform channel paging. This isusually a one-time installation menu that allows the user to definechannels that are favorites, and to be listed in the grid guide in apreferred order.

[0181] The channel select menu provides a list of all channels that canbe received by a viewer. From this list, channels can be designated asfavorites. Favorite channels are automatically given certain priorities.For example, in the event that the schedule memory is insufficient tostore all the listing information downloaded from broadcast, programnotes and other descriptive information for non-favorite channels willbe discarded before discarding such information for favorite channels.In case of severe shortage of memory space, listings for non-favoritechannels will be discarded first.

[0182] The channel select menu also allows the viewer to decide on thelisting priority of favorite channels on the grid guide. In oneimplementation, the channel select menu is a list of all channels,arranged in columns. The first column on the left, from top to bottom,will be the order in which channel listings will appear in the gridguide. Once favorite channels are designated, they will automatically begrouped together in the left-most columns. For example, if there arefour favorite channels, such as CNN, DISN, HBO and SHO, it is possibleto position SHO as the first channel in the grid guide. To do this,highlight the location where the new channel is to be moved. In thiscase, CNN is first highlighted. Next select the preferred channel, SHO.When this is done, CNN, DISN, and HBO will shift down one slot, and SHOwill be entered into the first slot.

[0183] The channel select menu is maintained in a persistent (anon-volatile) memory and is used by foreground and background guides andserves as user input selection criteria when listing program in the gridguide, or to determine the order and which channels are to be listed inthe background guide.

Grazing

[0184] Additional grazing features are illustrated in FIGS. 27, and 28A-B. grazing function that allows a viewer to retrieve guide informationfor other channels, without leaving the current channel and withoutsignificantly obstructing viewing of the current program. This grazingguide, consisting of a few lines of text, is displayed momentarily atthe bottom of the screen. implementation

provides a consistent user interface for the various modes.

[0185] 0. While viewing TV, pressing INFO will pop-up a Grazing Titlefor the currently viewed program.

[0186] 1. To see grazing titles for other channels, without leaving thecurrent channel, press the UP or Down arrow keys to change the channelof the displayed information. The Up or Down key will shift through aset of channels determined by the selected grazing mode, as explainedbelow.

[0187] 2. While the Grazing Info Pop up is open, pressing the Left ofRight arrow keys will open up a list of grazing modes (displayedhorizontally across the bottom of the screen). The last established modewill be highlighted when the Right or Left key is pressed first pressed.This mode list will momentarily displayed (hiding the Grazing Title)each time the Left or Right arrow is pressed. After about two seconds,the mode list will disappears and the Grazing Title will re-appear.

[0188] While the mode list is displayed, pressing the Right key willselect the mode to the right of the current mode, and pressing the Leftkey will select the mode to the left. The newly selected mode will behighlighted and the previous selected mode will be de-highlighted.Repeated pressing of either will toggle through the following GrazingTitle modes:

[0189] a. By favorite channels (channels selected using the favoritechannel menu).

[0190] b. By movies channels (channels now showing movies),

[0191] c. By sports (channels now carrying sports programming).

[0192] d. By Pay Per View (all channels carrying PPV programming)

[0193] e. By Theme. These are the channels that currently meet the Themecriteria that was last established in the Theme menu.

[0194] 3. Two seconds after a new mode is selected, the mode listvanishes and the Grazing Title for the is selected mode will bedisplayed. In another two or three seconds, the info Pop up will alsovanishes, restoring the screen to full TV display.

[0195]4. Channel count for each mode.

[0196] Some modes, particularly certain submodes of theme, may be sonarrow that no channels meet the selection criteria. To inform theviewer in advance, a channel count for each mode will be displayedalongside the mode label. This count is a tally of all channels that arebroadcasting shows meeting the mode criteria. If the viewer selects amode with no (0) channels, a “No channels are available” message will bedisplayed.

Grazing Titles on Channels Other Than the Current Channel

[0197] The user may wish to find out what programs are airing onchannels other than the current channel without retuning and withoutobstructing the view of the current program. This can be accomplished bypressing the UP or DOWN arrow keys while viewing TV.

[0198] When the user presses UP, the Grazing Titles pop up for the nextchannel in the user's favorites order is displayed. In the same way,when the user presses DOWN, the Grazing Titles pop up for the previouschannel in the user's favorites order is displayed The Grazing Titlespop up remains on the screen for two seconds, the same amount of timeGrazing Titles pop ups remain on the screen during normal channelgrazing.

[0199] While a Grazing Titles pop up for a channel other than thecurrent channel is on the screen, most of the keys have the samefunctionality they have in normal TV state with Grazing Titles; however,there are three whose fictions are altered.

[0200] It should further be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes in form and details of the invention as shown anddescribed may be made. It is intended that such changes be includedwithin the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A background television schedule system for isplaying television schedule information on a television including atelevision screen on which is displayed a primary display, saidbackground television schedule system comprising: means for inputtinguser selections of operating characteristics for a session of operatingsaid background television schedule system; a memory, coupled to saiduser selection input means, for storing said user selections; means,coupled to said memory, for activating and suspending operation of saidbackground television schedule system; and background display means,coupled to said television, to said activation means and to said memory,for displaying background schedule information over a portion of saidtelevision screen in response to a first activation of operation of saidbackground television schedule system, said primary television displaybeing displayed on said television screen in conjunction with saidbackground schedule information, said displayed background scheduleinformation being determined according to said operatingcharacteristics, wherein said background display means is configured toterminate display of said background schedule information on saidtelevision screen upon suspension of said background television schedulesystem, said background television schedule system having a first statusimmediately prior to said suspension of said background televisionschedule system; wherein said activation means is configured tore-activate said background television schedule system with a secondstatus at least substantially the same as said first status, upon asecond activation of said background television schedule system with asame session as said first activation of said background televisionschedule system.
 2. In a video recorder including a future schedulememory adapted to store the channel and time of occurrence of programsdesired to be recorded, the video recorder being adapted to receivetelevision input signals from a multi-channel tuner/descrambler having afirst remote control receiver for channel selection, the improvementcomprising: a first remote control transmitter forming a part of thevideo recorder and operative under control of signals stored in saidfuture schedule memory of the video recorder, said first remote controltransmitter being adapted to provide signals to said remote controlreceiver of the tuner/descrambler for channel selection at the time ofoccurrence of a program to be recorded to cause said tuner/descramblerto provide the video recorder with the appropriate television signal tobe recorded; a second remote control receiver forming part of the videorecorder; and a second remote control transmitter for provision ofsignals to said second remote control receiver in order to allow remotecontrol of the video recorder and of the multi-channel tuner/descramblerthrough signals provided by the second remote control transmitter to thevideo recorder and from the first remote control transmitter of thevideo recorder to the first remote control receiver, whereby a singleremote control unit may be used to control both the video recorder andthe multi-channel tuner/descrambler.
 3. In a video recorder including afuture schedule memory adapted to store the channel and time ofoccurrence of programs desired to be recorded, the video recorder beingadapted to receive television input signals from a multi-channeltuner/descrambler having a first remote control receiver for channelselection, the improvement comprising: a first remote controltransmitter forming a part of the video recorder and operative undercontrol of signals stored in said future schedule memory of the videorecorder, said first remote control transmitter being adapted to providesignals to said remote control receiver of the tuner/descrambler forchannel selection at the time of occurrence of a program to be recordedto cause said tuner/descrambler to provide the video recorder with theappropriate television signal to be recorded, said first remote controltransmitter controlling the channel selection and the energization ofthe tuner/descrambler; a second remote control receiver forming part ofthe video recorder; a second remote control transmitter for provision ofsignals to said second remote control receiver in order to allow remotecontrol of the video recorder and of the multi-channel tuner/descramblerthrough signals provided by the second remote control transmitter to thevideo recorder and from the first remote control transmitter of thevideo recorder to the first remote control receiver, whereby a singleremote control unit may be used to control both the video recorder andthe multi-channel tuner/descrambler; wherein said first remote controltransmitter is connected to the video recorder via a flexible cable,said first remote control transmitter being positioned properly withrespect to said first remote control receiver of the multi-channeltuner/descrambler for receipt of said signals generated by said firstremote control transmitter by said first remote control receiver; andwherein the first remote control receiver and the first remote controltransmitter communicate via infrared signals.
 4. A method of controllinga multi-channel tuner/descrambler for television signals having a remotecontrol receiver for channel selection for recording future scheduledprograms, said method comprising the steps of: storing the channel andtime of occurrence of future programs desired to be recorded in a futureschedule memory; providing remote control signals to the remote controlreceiver via a remote control transmitter when the current timecoincides with said time of occurrence of future programs desired to berecorded; recording the television signal output of the multi-channeltuner/descrambler via a video recorder when the current time coincideswith said time of occurrence of future programs desired to be recorded;controlling operation of the video recorder via a second remote controlreceiver disposed in the video recorder; and providing second remotecontrol signals to the second remote control receiver via a secondremote control transmitter, whereby both the multi-channeltuner/descrambler and the video recorder may be controlled by the secondremote control transmitter.
 5. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein:said step of providing remote control signals to the remote controlreceiver via a remote control transmitter includes generating infraredremote control signals via said remote control transmitter for selectionof the channel tuned by the multi-channel tuner/descrambler and forenergization of the multi-channel tuner/descrambler, connecting saidremote control transmitter to said future schedule memory via a flexiblecable, and disposing said remote control transmitter proximate theremote control receiver.
 6. A video system comprising: a multi-channelsource of television signals; a multi-channel tuner connected to saidmulti-channel source of television signals having a remote controlreceiver for channel selection based upon received remote controlsignals; a video recorder connected to said multi-channel tuner havingmeans operative to generate a signal specifying a channel selection; anda remote control transmitter operative to receive said signal specifyinga channel selection generated by said video recorder and operative togenerate remote control signals corresponding to said channel selectionfor receipt by said remote control receiver of said multi-channel tunerfor channel selection.
 7. The video system of claim 6, wherein: saidmulti-channel source of television signals includes a television cableincluding at least one scrambled channel; said multi-channel tunerconsists of a cable box adapted to receive a selected channel from saidtelevision cable corresponding to received remote control signals,descramble the television signal on said selected channel if saidselected channel is one of said at least one scrambled channel, andoutput the television signals of said selected channel on apredetermined channel; said video recorder further includes a secondremote control receiver for control of video recorder functions, andmeans for generating remote control signals via said remote controltransmitter for channel selection corresponding to remote controlsignals received via said second remote control receiver; and said videosystem further includes a second remote control transmitter operative togenerate remote control signals for receipt by said second remotecontrol receiver of said video recorder for control of video recorderfunctions, whereby said second remote control transmitter may be used tocontrol both said video recorder and said multi-channel tuner.
 8. Thevideo system of claim 7, wherein: said second remote control transmitterincludes means for providing channel selection signals; and said remotecontrol transmitter controls the channel selection of said multi-channeltuner corresponding to channel selection signals provided by said secondremote control transmitter.
 9. The video system of claim 7, wherein:said second remote control transmitter includes means for providingenergization signals; and said remote control transmitter controls theenergization of said multi-channel tuner corresponding to energizationsignals provided by said second remote control transmitter.
 10. Thevideo system of claim 6, wherein: said video recorder further includes afuture schedule memory adapted to store the channel and time ofoccurrence of future programs, a real time clock circuit for generatingpresent time signals, a controller connected to said future schedulememory, said clock circuit, and said remote control transmitter, saidcontroller operative to control said remote control transmitter totransmit remote control signals to the remote control receiver of themulti-channel tuner for selection of the channel stored in said futureprogram memory when said present time clock signal coincides with thetime of occurrence of the future program.
 11. The video system of claim10, wherein said video recorder further includes: a tape drive unitadapted to record television signals on a video tape and play backtelevision signals previously recorded on video tape, and wherein saidfuture schedule memory stores the channel and time of occurrence offuture programs desired to be recorded, and said controller is furtherconnected to said tape drive unit to control said tape drive unit torecord the television signal received from the multi-channel tuner whensaid present time clock signal coincides with the time of occurrence ofa future program to be recorded.
 12. The video system of claim 6,wherein: said remote control transmitter is connected to the videorecorder via a flexible cable, said remote control transmitter beingpositioned properly with respect to said remote control receiver of themulti-channel tuner for receipt of said remote control signals generatedby said remote control transmitter by said remote control receiver. 13.A video recorder adapted to receive television input signals from amulti-channel tuner/descrambler which has a remote control receiver forchannel selection, said video recorder comprising: a future schedulememory adapted to store the channel and time of occurrence of futureprograms to be recorded; a clock circuit for generating present timeclock signals; a tape drive unit adapted to record television signals onvideo tape and play back television signals previously recorded on videotape; a remote control transmitter operative to generate remote controlsignals for receipt by the remote control receiver of thetuner/descrambler for channel selection; a controller connected to saidfuture schedule memory, said clock circuit, said tape drive unit andsaid remote control transmitter, said controller operative to controlsaid remote control transmitter to transmit remote control signals tothe remote control receiver of the multi-channel tuner/descrambler forselection of the channel to be recorded stored in said future programmemory when said present time clock signal coincides with the time ofoccurrence of a future program to be recorded, and control said tapedrive unit to record the television signal received from themulti-channel tuner/descrambler when said present time clock signalcoincides with the time of occurrence of a future program to berecorded.
 14. The video recorder of claim 13, further comprising: asecond remote control receiver for receipt of second remote controlsignals; said controller being further connected to said second remotecontrol receiver and further operative to control video recorderfunctions in accordance with received second remote control signals, andgenerate remote control signals via said remote control transmitter forchannel selection corresponding to second remote control signalsreceived via as second remote control receiver; and a second remotecontrol transmitter separated from said video recorder for provision ofsignals to said second remote control receiver in order to allow remotecontrol of the video recorder and of the multi-channel tuner/descramblerthrough signals provided by the second remote control transmitter to thevideo recorder and from the remote control transmitter of the videorecorder to the remote control receiver, whereby said second remotecontrol unit may be used to control both the videorecorder and themulti-channel tuner/descrambler.
 15. A system for interfaceing a cabletelevision decoder having an input for receiving television signalsincluding a plurality of channels and an output for directing a selectedchannel from the television signals to a television or televisionaccessory, which comprises: a programmable tuning means, connected tothe output of said cable television decoder to receive the selectedchannel on a fixed channel from said cable television decoder, forselecting a desired television channel signal; means, connected to saidprogrammable tuning means, for inhibiting said programmable tuning meansfrom tuning to the selected television channel when said cabletelevision decoder is operational; means for emulating the channelselecting commands of said television decoder; means, connected to saidmeans for emulating, for transmitting emulated channel selectingcommands from said means for emulating to said cable television decoder;and means, coupled to said means for emulating, for making televisionchannel selections.
 16. The system of claim 15 in which said means fortransmitting the emulated channel selecting commands comprises aninfrared transmitter positioned to direct the emulated channel selectingcommands to an input of said cable decoder for remote control signals.17. The system of claim 16 in which said means for making televisionchannel selections comprises a remote control unit having an infraredtransmitter.
 18. The system of claim 15 in which said means for makingtelevision channel selections additionally includes means for setting adesired activation time for a channel selection, said system furtherincluding a memory connected to said means for emulating for storingtelevision channel selections and desired activation times for thetelevision channel selections.
 19. The system of claim 15 in which saidmeans for emulating supplies television channel selections to saidprogrammable tuning means when said cable television decoder is notoperating.
 20. The system of claim 15 in which said means for emulatingand said means for for transmitting are implemented with amicroprocessor.
 21. The system of claim 20 in which said means forinhibiting is implemented with a latch connected between saidmicroprocessor and said programmable tuner to receive a signalidentifying the selected television channel, said latch also beingconnected to said microprocessor to receive a latch enable signal. 22.The system of claim 21 in which said microprocessor is connected to saidtelevision accessory to provide the signal identifying the selectedtelevision channel to a display of said television accessory.
 23. Thesystem of claim 15 additionally comprising a means, on said televisionaccessory, for displaying a selected channel.
 24. The system of claim 18wherein the desired activation times for the television channelselections are about the broadcast times for the television channelselections, and wherein said means for transmitting emulated channelselecting commands transmits said emulated channel selecting commands atsaid desired activation times.
 25. A method for interfacing a cabletelevision decoder having an input for receiving television signalsincluding a plurality of channels and an output for directing a selectedchannel from the television signals to a television or televisionaccessory, which comprises: receiving the selected channel on a fixedchannel from said cable television decoder at a programmable tuningmeans for selecting a desired television channel signal; inhibiting saidprogrammable tuning means from tuning to the selected television channelwhen said cable television decoder is operational; making televisionchannel selections; emulating the channel selecting commands of saidcable television decoder corresponding to the television channelselections; and transmitting the emulated channel selecting commands tosaid cable television decoder.
 26. The method of claim 25 in which theemulated channel selecting commands are transmitted by infrared.
 27. Themethod of claim 26 in which the television channel selections are madewith infrared.
 28. The method of claim 25 additionally including thestep of setting a desired activation time for a channel selection. 29.The method of claim 25 in which said means for emulating suppliestelevision channel selections to said programmable tuning means whensaid cable television decoder is not operating.
 30. The method of claim25 additionally comprising the step of displaying the selected channelon a display of said television accessory.